Shoe.



No. 819,845. PATENTED MAY 8,-1906. H. F. BROWNE.

SHOE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25., 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHBBT 1.

No. 819,845. PATENTED MAY 8, 1906. H. F. BROWNE.

SHOE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 25, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@afan/Zeg@ HENRY FRANKLIN BROW NE, OF

SwAMPScoTT, MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 8, 1906.

Application tiled January 25, 1905. Serial No. 242.625.

To LZ whom it may concern,

Be it known that I, HENRY FRANKLIN BRowNE, of Swampscott, in the countyof Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Shoes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates chiefly to springheeled shoes; and it has for itsobject to provide certain improvements in the construction of shoes ofthis class looking to economy and durability and to the provision of ayielding heel seat or support for the heel of the wearer's foot.

The improvement also has for its object to provide means for reinforcingor still'ening the upper of a shoe at the sides between the heel andfore part portions.

The invention consists in the improvements which I will now proceed todescribe and claim.

Of the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification,Figure 1 represents a perspective sectional view of ashoe einbodying myinvention Fig. 2 represents a perspective view of parts shown in Fig. 1.Fig. 3 represents a perspective view showing parts of another embodimentof the invention. Fig. 4 represents a section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective views showing other embodiments of theinvention. Fig. 7 represents a side view, and Fig. 8 a longitudinalsection, of a portion of another spring-heel shoe embodying myinvention. 4

The same numerals of reference indicate the same parts in all of thefigures.

In the drawings, 12 represents the outer sole of a spring-heeled shoe,the same being offset at its heel portion to form the breast 14 and toplift 15 of the spring-heel.

I6 represents the marginal portion of a filling-lift, which bears on theupper surface of the top lift and is provided with beveled portionsbearing on the upper surface of the breast portion, said beveledportions being shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 5 as ears or wings 17, formedseparately from the marginal portion, and in Fig. 6 as portions 17,which are integral With the portion 16. The upper surfaces of theportion 16 and the portion 17 or 17 and the fore part of the outer soleform a continuous marginal seat on which bears an outwardly-turnedmarginal lip or liange 18 on the upper 19. Awelt 2() is laced on the lip18, and the said welt and 'p are united f to the outer sole and to theportions 16 and 17 or 17 of the filling-lift by stitches 21 `or othersuitable fastenings. The heel portion of the upper has a stiffener 330,provided with an outwardly-turned flange 34, which forms a part of thelip 18. The shoe thus tively inexpensive owing to its simplicity and thefacilitywith which its parts may be assembled and united.

The marginal portion of the filling-lift is U- shaped and forms a cavityor pocket 22 for a yielding heel seat or cushion for the heel of thewearer, which cushion practically forms the central portion of thefilling-lift. Different forms of cushions are shown in the drawings.

1FFigs. 1, 2, and 6 show a cushion 23, which may be made of sole-leatherand normally supported in a raised position wholly by the resilience ofthe leather or by a spring 24,

the top lift 15.

Figs. 3, 4, and5 show a cushion 25, of rubber or other elastic material,which may have a shank 26 of the same materialextending over the shankportion of the outer sole and secured thereto by suitable means, such asstuds 27, entering sockets in the outer sole. The portions 17 are show nin Figs. 3 and 5 as integral with the cushion 25, the said portions whenunited to the upper and outer sole as described retaining the cushionsecurely in place. The cushion 25 may have a U- shaped incision 28,which permits its central portion to rise and fall. Said central portionmay be cemented or otherwise secured to an inner sole 29, the heelportion of which is adapted to spring upwardly, as shown in Fi 5.

Flhen the cushion is constructed as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 6, it mayform a part of a short tuck-sole 30 or other member of the bottomportion of the shoe. In Figs. 1 and 2 the cushion 23, the filling-liftportions 17, and the member 30 are made in a single integral piece whichis independent of the marginal portion of the filling-lift. In Fig. 6the said parts are shown as integral with the said marginal portion. Itwill be seen that the U-shaped portion 16 of the filling-lift providesfor the application of a cushion to the heel-supporting portion of theshoe without increasing the thickness `of the heel portionof theshoe-bottom.

In Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6 I show upper reinconstructed is strong, durable,and rela-I Fig. 1, interposed between said cushion and IOO IIO

forcing or stiHeninCr ears or wings 32, which are supported by thebottom or sole portion of the shoe and bear against the innersurfaces ofthe side portions of the upper between the heel and the fore'part. Thesewings are preferably made of fairly stiff leather and are alsopreferably integral with a tuck-sole or other member of the sole p0rtionof the shoe. They serve not only to retain the shape of the sides of theupper, but also to aid materially in supporting the sides of the foot.It will be seen that the breast of the spring-heel forms the front sideor wall of the cushion pocket or cavity, the said pocket being thereforeformed by the application of the filling-lift to the sole, the bottom ofthe pocket being below the highest portion of the heel-breast. l

In Figs. 7 and 8 I show a construction in which the filling-liftcomprises a cushion occupying the entire space which in Fig. 3 isoccupied by the U- haped portion 16, beveled portions 17, and cushion23. In said Figs. 7 and 8 the spring-heel has an inclined breast 33 anda solid body portion which inclut` es a top lift 34 and an inner lift35, the upper side of said body portion being lower than the highestpart of the breast 38. The heel portion 36 of the upper is extendeddownwardly, its lower edge being inclined from 37 to 38 to conform tothe breast. The upper surface of the heel-body forms the bottom of acushion pocket or cavity located below the highest part of theheel-breast, the latter forming the front wall of said cavity. 39represents a cushion inserted in said pocket.

In each of the embodiments of my invention above described the frontwall of the cushion-pocket is formed by the upper portion of thetinclined breast of a spring-heel, and the under surfaceof the cushionis beveled at its forward. portion to abut against the said inclinedbreast, the upper surface of the cushion being in each casesubstantially flush with the highest portion of the inclined breast, sothat the cushion does not occupy space in the shoe intended for theaccommodation of the heel portion of the foot. In each embodiment theupper surface of the cushion is substantially parallel with thetread-surface of the heel when the cushion 1s subjected to pressure, sothat the cushion has no tendency to force the'foot forward toward thetoe of the shoe. It will also be observed that in each embodiment of theinvention illustrated the margin of the cushion is within the area ofthe heel portion of the upper, and consequently is not exposed, as wouldbe the case if a leather filling-lift of an orfinary spring-heel shoewere to vbe replaced by a rubber lift of the same formy and location. Inother words, the area of the cushion is such that its margin isprotected by some part of the shoe, either by the member 16, to whichthe lower edge of the heel portion of the upper is directly connected,as in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, or by the lower edge of the heel portionof the upper, as in Figs. 7 and 8. In either case the margin of thecushion is out of sight and is protected.

I claiml. A spring-heel shoe having a heel-cushion pocket, the bottom ofwhich is located. below the upper portion of the inclined breast of thespring-heel, said breast forming the front wall of the pocket, and anelastic cushion having flat substantially parallel upper and lower facesand formed to occupy said pocket and having its under side beveled atthe,forward end to abut against the inclined breast, the upper side ofthe cushion being substantially flush with the highest part of thebreast, the margin of the cushion being within the area of the heelportion of the upper.

2. Aspring-heel shoe having an outer sole offset at one end to form thetread portion, and the inclined breast of a spring-heel, the uppersurface of the said tread portion being located below the upper portionof the inclined breast, andforming the bottom of a cushion-pocket, thefront wall of which ris formed by the inclined breast, and an elasticcushion formed to occupy said pocket and having its under side beveledvat the forward end to abut against the inclined breast, the u er sideof the cushiombeing substantially parallel with the tread-surface of thetread ortion, and substantially Hush with thev 'ghest portion of theinclined breast, the margin of the cushion being within the area of theheel portion of the upper.

3. A spring-heel shoe having an outer sole, odset at one Vend to formthe top lift and breast of a spring-heel, and a filling-lift comprisinga U-shaped piece or portion and a central piece or portion bearing onthe top lift and beveled portions bearing on the end portions of thebreast.

, In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

' HENRY FRANKLIN BROWNE.

Witnesses:

THOMAS C. BOWEN, GEORGE C. BROWNE.

IOO

